Digital Commons Network^™

Integrating Technology And Traditional Systems In Regional Revitalisation; Insights From Japanese Practices, Fathelalem Ali Hija, Yasuki Shima, Yuji Arakaki

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

This study examines the integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solutions and advanced technology practices and their coexistence with conventional systems and initiatives that have been operating in different regions of Japan to address some of the socio-economic challenges. The methodological approach of the study includes three facets, namely government initiatives, technology involvement and local society actors. The study examines government visions and initiatives that emphasize the use of advanced technology as a key factor and tool to enable solutions and realize the target vision. The ageing population and economic stagnation are common challenges in different regions of Japan. …

The Effect Of Walnut Shell Ash On The Properties Of Cement Paste And Mortar: A Study On Partial Replacement Of Cement, Ali Shebli, Jamal Khatib, Adel Elkordi

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

In the pursuit of a more sustainable future, the utilization of agricultural waste in cementitious products has emerged as a popular and effective solution. The current study explores the feasibility of incorporating ash derived from walnut nutshells, considered agro residues, into eco-friendly blended cement paste and mortars to examine its impact on their properties. A range of blended cement mixtures was formulated by incorporating walnut shell ash (WSA) in three varying proportions of 5%, 10%, and 15% relative to the weight of the cement. Tests were conducted to investigate the properties of the blended cement paste and mortar incorporating WSA, …

Towards Digital Twins For Optimizing Metrics In Distributed Storage Systems - A Review, May Itani, Layal Abu Daher, Ahmad Hammoud

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

With the exponential data growth, there is a crucial need for highly available, scalable, reliable, and cost-effective Distributed Storage Systems (DSSs). To ensure such efficient and fault tolerant systems, replication and erasure coding techniques are typically used in traditional DSSs. However, these systems are prone to failure and require different failure prevention and recovery algorithms. Failure recovery of DSS and data reconstruction techniques take into consideration different performance metrics optimization in the recovery process. In this paper, DSS performance metrics are introduced. Several recent papers related to adopting erasure coding in DSSs are surveyed together with highlighting related performance metrics …

Molybdenum Versus Tungsten Based Polyoxometalates For Highly Effective Methylene Blue Removal, Roula Abi Saad, Ghassan Younes, Mohammad H. El- Dakdouki, Rami Al-Oweini

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

[SiW₁₂O₄₀]^4-(SiW₁₂) and [Mo₈O₂₆]^4- (Mo₈) were synthesized and characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The prepared polyoxometalates were studied as potential adsorbents for the removal of methylene blue (MB) from an aqueous solution. Various operational parameters—contact time, adsorbent dose, initial dye concentration, pH, and temperature— were meticulously assessed by UV/Vis spectrophotometry to study its impact on the adsorption efficacy. An inverse relationship was observed between the percentage dye removal and the initial dye concentration, highlighting the complexes' superior adsorption capabilities under lower dye loads. The …

Assessing The Performance Of Newly Developed Silica Nanoparticles Against Lead And Phosphate Ion Removal From Contaminated Solutions Using Adsorption Isotherm, Hasan Shamseddine, Nour Abi Aad, Rami Oweini, Ghassan Younes

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

This study investigates the removal of Lead and Phosphate ion from aqueous solution using new silica nanoparticles doped with europium (H1) which was characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The aim of this research is to develop a novel adsorbent material that can efficiently remove contaminated ions from wastewater or aqueous solutions. The adsorption of lead and phosphate ion onto the silica nanoparticles is investigated, and the efficiency of this removal is evaluated. Equilibrium data analysis reveals linear fitting with Langmuir isotherm with 24.76 mg/g Lead ion uptake, while for phosphate the …

The Effect Of Fine Recycled Concrete Aggregates On The Mechanical And Durability Properties Of Concrete, Abbas Chour, Jamal Khatib

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

The fast increase of construction and demolition (C&D) operations has resulted in the creation of massive amounts of garbage, which must be cleared. Reusing C&D waste is of significant importance for environmental conservation and resource utilization. One such alternative for structural concrete is recycled concrete aggregate obtained from building and demolition debris. In this context, the present study aims to comprehensively review the current state of the art in fine recycled concrete materials (fRCA), including their physical properties, technological advantages, mechanical properties, and durability characteristics. The study establishes a paradigm for evaluating the quality of fRCA, whether created in a …

Preliminary Water Quality Assessment Using Canadian Water Quality Index Of Ras El-Ain Ponds, South Lebanon, Hussien Ali Fayad, Safaa Baydoun, Mohamad Reda Soliman

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

Water quality deterioration in Lebanon is a pressing national issue and there is a high need for continuous water quality assessment and monitoring of water bodies in the country. This study aims at assessing water quality of Ras El-Ain Ponds, a major natural water resource for domestic use in Tyre district, South Lebanon by using the widely applied Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Water Quality Index (CCME WQI). Sampling was conducted during February-March, 2023 and physiochemical and microbiological water quality parameters were determined using standardized methods. Assessed parameters in our study are temperature, turbidity, electrical conductivity (EC), total …

Optimization Of The Bio-Synthesis Of Magnesium Nanoparticles From Staphylococcus Haemolyticus: A Pilot Study, Mariam Bassam, Malak Mezher, Mahmoud Khalil

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

Nanotechnology is developing rapidly. This field has many influences in humans’ life. Nanoparticles (NPs) have many unique properties including the size, shape, morphology, and surface area. The synthesis of NPs could be achieved by three ways: physical, chemical, and biological. However, the biological synthesis of NPs has a priority on the other domains due to its safety and environmental friendship. In this regard, the main objective of this study was to synthesize magnesium (Mg) NPs from the bacterium S. haemolyticus which was isolated from the Lebanese wastewater. Different parameters were applied to detect the best conditions to produce the highest …

Volar V-Y Advancement Flaps In Reconstructing Fingertip Injuries, Sawsan Abiad

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

Fingertip injuries with exposed bones and joints require immediate or early closure for the preservation of function and avoidance of complications. The ideal procedure should maintain the length of the finger and cover the defect with non-tender, well-padded skin with normal sensation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of the different types of volar V-Y advancement flaps in reconstructing and resurfacing injuries of the fingertips at different levels and angles. Thirty patients (N=30) sustaining fingertip injuries of variable etiology and lost components, type III & IV according to Allen’s classification were divided into two groups (n=15) …

Human Gender Classification Using Kinect Sensor: A Review, Hesham Adnan Alabbasi, Florica Moldoveanu, Alin Moldoveanu

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

Human Gender Classification using Kinect sensor aims to classifying people’s gender based on their outward appearance. Application areas of Kinect sensor technology includes security, marketing, healthcare, and gaming. However, because of the changes in pose, attire, and illumination, gender determination with the Kinect sensor is not a trivial task. It is based on a variety of characteristics, including biological, social network, face, and body aspects. In recent years, gender classification that utilizes the Kinect sensor became a popular and essential way for accurate gender classification. A variety of methods and approaches, like machine learning, convolutional neural networks, sport vector machine …

Behavior Of Concrete Mixes Using Recycled Aggregate Confined With Steel Sections, Latifa Sobhi Kassem, Adnan El-Masri, Nour Webhi

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

Recycled Concrete Aggregate (RAC) is a form of recycled concrete that has been studied for green building for the past 50 years. It can be used to create strong structures, such as seismic retrofitting of earthquake-prone structures. Studies have attempted to experimentally study the effect of using recycled aggregate in concrete, but the literature lacks the use of recycled concrete aggregate rapped with steel rings. This study examines the behavior of circular concrete columns with different percentages of recycled aggregate. It examines the behavior of a column with different percentages of recycled aggregate, one without jacketing, one with partial jacketing, …

Investigating Factors Affecting Customer Repeated Purchasing Intention In Online Shopping: The Mediating Role Of Satisfaction, Maram Darkhabani

BAU Journal - Society, Culture and Human Behavior

This research examines the relationship between website quality, customer perceived value, customer satisfaction, and repeated online purchasing intention in Lebanon. A quantitative approach was used, and data from 385 online shoppers were collected through an online survey. The results indicate that website quality significantly predicts customer perceived value, satisfaction, and repeated online purchasing intention. Customer perceived value also predicts satisfaction and purchase intention, while satisfaction predicts repeated online purchasing intention. These findings highlight the importance of website quality in shaping customer perceptions, satisfaction, and repeated online purchasing behavior.

The research suggests that improving website quality, offering high-quality services, personalized experiences, …

The Impact Of Trust And Rewards On Online Purchasing Intention: The Mediating Role Of Attitudes, Jessica Farhat Tannoury

BAU Journal - Society, Culture and Human Behavior

This study explores the relationship between trust, rewards, attitudes, and online purchasing intention, with attitudes serving as the mediator variable in the Lebanese context. Using a sample of 400 respondents, a structural equation model (SEM) was employed to test the hypotheses. The results showed a positive and significant relationship between trust and attitudes, as well as between rewards and attitudes. Additionally, attitudes were found to mediate the relationship between both trust and rewards on online purchasing intention. These findings highlight the importance of building trust and offering rewards to enhance consumers' attitudes towards online shopping, which ultimately leads to higher …

Beirut On The Seine: Rebuilding Lebanese Identity After The Scourge Of War, Soumaya Al Jarrah

BAU Journal - Society, Culture and Human Behavior

The current situation of Lebanon is difficult. The country is sinking into a deep economic, financial, political, and social crisis, which has become worse since 2019 and especially after the explosion of the Beirut port in August 2020. As a result, several Lebanese decided to leave the country. This situation is partly a result of the civil war that took place between 1975 and 1990.

Indeed, the Lebanese war leaves an important mark on the literary works that have Lebanon as a setting. Authors express their desire to explore in their works the traumas, consequences and effect of these conflicts …

Human Rights Of Psychiatric Patients In The State Of Kuwait, Samira Ahmed Alkanderi

BAU Journal - Society, Culture and Human Behavior

There is no doubt that the right to have a good health is considered a basic human right which is closely linked to the other civil, political and economic human rights. It is a right for all people without any discrimination.

From the point of the belief of the international human rights community with the rights of patients who are suffering from mental or psychological sickness, the General Assembly of the United Nations issued in 1991 some principles, which admit the right of all persons to enjoy the right of getting the best available mental and psychological health care which …

Writing As A Mean To Rehabilitate The Traumatized Self In Vivre Vite By Brigitte Giraud, Nadia Naboulsi Iskandarani

BAU Journal - Society, Culture and Human Behavior

In her novel Vivre vite, Brigitte Giraud writes the story of a disaster that obsesses her: on June 22, 1999; her companion Claude died in a motorcycle accident in Lyon. This vehicle, a powerful and dangerous Honda, was prohibited on Japanese territory and was reserved for export to Europe. It did not belong to Claude, but to the writer's brother. She was only able to return to the drama that inhabited her in 2022, that is to say twenty-three years after Claude's death. The reader cannot help but wonder about this long silence and why this return to the minutiae …

Preventive Measures Of Burnout Among Mental Health Workers In Lebanon, Mona Ghazi Sayegh, Mayssah Ahmed El Nayal

BAU Journal - Society, Culture and Human Behavior

This research aims to measure burnout among mental health workers in Lebanon and to identify the preventive measures they utilize not to exceed the danger threshold. The study follows the descriptive correlational comparative approach. Maslash Burnout Scale (MBI-HSS) and Preventive Measures Inventory (PMI) scale are applied to a random sample of mental health workers (psychotherapists and psychologists n = 110) in all Lebanese governorates. The effect of the following demographic factors is studied: profession, age groups, years of experience, and work conditions: war, explosion, economic crisis, corona pandemic, normal circumstances. Pearson correlations, T-test, ANOVA, and MANOVA are manipulated. Results show …

Well-Being And Its Relationship To Religiosity, Psychological Stress, And Death Anxiety Among A Sample Of The Lebanese Society, Mona Ghazi Sayegh, Mayssah Ahmed El Nayal

BAU Journal - Society, Culture and Human Behavior

This study is divided into two sections: the first section aims to extrapolate the reality of the situation in the Lebanese society during the beginning of 2021 with regard to psychological stress and death anxiety following the Beirut Port Blast and during the Corona crisis and the beginning of the economic downturn in Lebanon; the second section aims to study the correlation among the components of well-being and religiosity, and the relationship between death anxiety and psychological stress with well-being and religiosity. It also aims to reveal the possibility of predicting well-being through psychological stress and death anxiety. In addition, …

Write To Heal: The Theatrical Workshop For Thinking And Healing Wounds, Michel Abou Khalil

BAU Journal - Society, Culture and Human Behavior

Lebanon, a beautiful country, warm and welcoming, continues to live in a cycle of crises like Sisyphus. Barely has a wound healed than a new drama hits him, putting him back to zero hour and perhaps below. Faced with this series of disasters, writers, artists and intellectuals engage and encourage through their creative work to reflect, resist, revolt and ultimately transform the society. It is a quasi-therapeutic process driven by art. Beyond writing, how does this healing through a theatrical workshop move from the “individual” me to the “collective” us?

Between Escape And Emigration: The Quest For An Identity, Marie-Ange Nohra Merhi

BAU Journal - Society, Culture and Human Behavior

A real doubt marks the enterprise of an individual, to think of a human dimension that is internal to him, but grows outside him. The desire born in him, develops externally and depends on environmental events. What does separation do as a traumatic incident hindering desire for a young person ?

The best way to define desire, in the psychosocial and geocultural context of this century, would be to raise it in relation to its lack. Indeed, this paradox is inherent in the definition itself. At a certain level a schism takes place in human thought: a schism already existing …

The Role Of Media In Social And Cultural Change In Remote Areas Between Reality And Hopea Case Study Of The South Sinai Region In Egypt, Iman El Bastawisi

BAU Journal - Society, Culture and Human Behavior

Despite the various social and human researches in Egypt that were focusing on different issues related to the impact of media on members of society; however the impact of the media on the inhabitants of remote areas did not receive the desired sufficient attention as important frontier areas inhabited by Bedouins; a group of people that has been neglected and misjudged for too long by a large number of Egyptians.

And by virtue of my frequent visits to the region since 1979 for the purpose of scientific research and implementation of some development programs, I have become a familiar face …

Exile: Heartbreak, Resilience And Visceral Attachment To Origins In The Novel A Crier Dans Les Ruins By Alexandra Koszelyk, Hanane Abou Nasreddine

BAU Journal - Society, Culture and Human Behavior

In the study, we propose to question the pragmatics of exile in the literary work A crier dans les ruines by Alexandra Koszelyk. This novel immerses us in post-disaster Ukraine. It tells the initiatory, poetic and melancholic journey of a young woman who must forge her identity on the history of her country that we are trying to stifle. The novel puts on stage people uprooted by force; some, attached to their roots, remain close to the irradiated zone; while the others, including the heroine Léna, decide to flee the place definitively to rebuild themselves elsewhere. However, despite the exile, …

Trauma And Rehabilitation In A Paradoxical Social And Cultural Context, In The African Equation By Yasmina Khadra, Badia Mazboudi

BAU Journal - Society, Culture and Human Behavior

In the journey described by Yasmina Khadra in The African equation, the author raises the question of the difficult rehabilitation of two ethnically different groups: on one hand, the main characters of the novel, Westerners (German and French) taken hostage off the coast of Sudan by African mercenaries, and on the other hand, the African populations savagely relocated from their lands to makeshift camps. Faced with this emotional shock and this traumatic act, the reactions of the two groups are not the same: post-traumatic depression, social isolation, pain, whereas the Africans, destitute and wandering from one place to another, seem …

Memory For Oblivion In Wajdi Mouawad’S Play Mère, Christelle Stephan-Hayek

BAU Journal - Society, Culture and Human Behavior

“Keeping the memory of past events would contribute to a better knowledge of hazards and to the prediction of future events. » (Reghezza-Zitt, Benitez & Devès, 2020, p. 1) Remembering is undoubtedly the best of mentors. But forgetting would also be a precious ally in the perpetual and daily struggle that is life. Indeed, “it is essential that the brain forgets the unimportant details to focus on what really matters, in our daily decision-making.” (Richards & Frankland, 2017, p. 1083)

What if we remembered to better accept the tragedy? What if writing helped us to understand it better? What if …

Self-Reconstruction : Between Identity And Interpersonal Relationships, Abdelfettah Nacer Idrissi

BAU Journal - Society, Culture and Human Behavior

We live and go through situations and circumstances that hurt us or bring us joy and happiness. However, moments of crisis seem to be the most important moments in our lives when we question ourselves. We question our personality, our identity, our relationships with ourselves or with others. We carry, as Jacques Salomé said so well, “the scars of our wounds. It is up to us to honor them, because they also say that we have survived and that they have made us stronger and more lucid.

We will rely on this quote to elaborate our problematic on the self-reconstruction …

Impact Of Perceived Organizational Support, Employee Empowerment, And Organizational Commitment On Turnover Intention In The Lebanese Smes Sector: The Mediating Role Of Employee Engagement, Istivani Hilal

BAU Journal - Society, Culture and Human Behavior

This study investigates the impact of perceived organizational support (POS), employee empowerment (EE), and organizational commitment (OC) on turnover intention (TI) in the Lebanese small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) sector. The study also examines the mediating role of employee engagement (EEG) in this relationship. A sample of 390 employees from SMEs in Lebanon was surveyed using a structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). The results show that POS, EE, and OC are negatively related to TI in the Lebanese SMEs sector. Moreover, EEG mediates the relationship between POS, EE, and OC and TI. Specifically, the …

The Civil Liability For Artificial Intelligence, Dr. Sarah Zein

BAU Journal - Journal of Legal Studies - مجلة الدراسات القانونية

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the way we live and work, with applications in fields as diverse as healthcare, finance, and transportation. However, with the increasing use of AI comes new legal and ethical challenges, including the question of civil liability for harm caused by AI systems. In the French legal system, there is a growing need to address these issues and develop a clear framework for defining and attributing responsibility for harm caused by AI. This article will explore the legal and ethical issues surrounding civil liability for AI in France, including the applicable legal norms and principles, …

Virtual Hearings In Arbitration, Dr. Tala Zein

BAU Journal - Journal of Legal Studies - مجلة الدراسات القانونية

The rapid progress in technology has opened up new opportunities in various fields, including dispute resolution. This study focuses on the emergence and importance of virtual hearings in arbitration, highlighting their potential to bring about significant changes in the digital era. Virtual hearings, also known as remote or online hearings, involve conducting arbitration proceedings through electronic means, using videoconferencing platforms and other digital tools. The use of virtual hearings in the arbitration process has revealed significant benefits, such as overcoming geographical limitations by allowing parties and arbitrators to participate from different locations without the need for travel. As a result, …

The Effectiveness Of The Rules Of International Criminal Responsibility In The Face Of Biological Weapons., Inaam Barkouk

BAU Journal - Journal of Legal Studies - مجلة الدراسات القانونية

This study dealt with the talk about biological weapons that have been used in wars since ancient times, and whose reappearance has re-emerged to attract the attention of peoples and governments in our time, and then determine the nature of the acts resulting from them, and the international criminal responsibility resulting from the violations committed through them as one of the most deadly weapons that result in International crimes against humans and other living creatures We reached the ambiguity surrounding some international criminal legal rules and explained how they are adapted to the actions resulting from these weapons and the …

Harassment And Bullying (A Study In The Lebanese And Egyptian Penal Code), Karen Kaadan

BAU Journal - Journal of Legal Studies - مجلة الدراسات القانونية

This research paper solves a new and very serious problem which is the possibility of considering the punitive penalty, that was selected by the Lebanese penal code and the Egyptian penal law for harassment crime and the bullying action, capable of achieving the criminal deterrence function and the deterrence function in a public figure. The problem was solved using a unique technique referred to the importance of cooperation between the humanitarian sciences to achieve an effective criminal policy that we can combat these crimes and actions through. On a specific level referred to the harassment and the bullying action, we …